JCoSS, the Jewish Community Secondary School, is still set to open in September 2010, despite the decision by Barnet Council to redesign its own East Barnet School. The new East Barnet School will provide new accommodation for the existing East Barnet Upper School, currently based at Westbrook Crescent, in turn, freeing up the Westbrook Crescent site for JCoSS.

The redesign will mean a delay of up to a year in the rebuilding of the East Barnet School at its new Chestnut Grove site. Nevertheless, the JCoSS Trust and Norwood have confirmed that, so long as the Council meets its new deadlines, it still expects the school and the Special Unit to open as planned and on time in September 2010.

Chairperson, Michael Phillips, explains:

“Fortunately, the intention all along has been to build JCoSS on a greenfield site alongside the existing East Barnet Upper School, and then to demolish the old buildings once they have been vacated to make way for our all-weather pitches.  As a result, even though Barnet now needs to redesign their school, there is no reason it should delay us.”

Barnet councillor, John Marshall, Cabinet member for Investment in Learning, adds:

“The rebuilding of East Barnet School and the associated building of JCoSS are still definite council priorities and will go ahead, but clearly the council has to achieve value for money for council tax payers.”

ENDS

For further information please call Ben Rich 07713 509134 or 020 8869 9539